Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 00:59:07 EDT
From: MOoNcHiL0@aol.com
Subject: Falling In Love With A Stranger, Part 12
CHAPTER 12 - MENDED PROMISES and DISAPPOINTMENTS
I sat on my stairs for a little with my face buried in my hands. My cheeks
were hot and clamy from my tears. I looked up at the door and Philip was
still standing there. He just looked at me and I couldn't decipher what
exactly his expression was.
I got up and opened the door and he just looked at me. We stared at one
another in silence.
"Why is this so important to you? Really, why can't you just let me do what
I wanna do?" he grabbed my cheeks and looked into my eyes.
"The reason is that...my grandfather died from lung cancer because he used
to smoke. I don't want you to die...you jerk," I added not trying to sound
sappy. "He had smoked since he was our age and he died a few years ago. I
can't believe you are stupid enough to think you can smoke and not have any
consequences to it, Philip," I looked to the floor and nudged my lips to
his hand, kissing his thumb. His touch was gentle and had a genuine warmth
to it.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I really didn't know you felt so strongly about
it, Eugene," Philip took me into his strong arms. "I promise this time that
I really will try to stop."
"Yeah, promise like last time...I can't believe you lied to me. How could
you lie to me?" I muffled out weakly.
"I know it's going to be hard to trust me because of what I did. I don't
know what else to say. It's my fault and I'm glad you care enough to try to
make me stop. I guess I took you for granted and I shouldn't," he said as
he gently kissed my forehead and held me more tightly.
I just grabbed his chest more tightly and sunk my face into his shoulder
and he stroked my hair to calm me down. We made our way back up the stairs
when I noticed a letter for me on the counter. It was the college I had set
all my hopes upon going to. It was a tiny envelope and I was getting
concerned. I opened up the envelope to see:
Dear Eugene,
We are sorry to inform you that we cannot extend our admissions to you for
the Fall semester.
You were one of among 3000 applicants for only 1000 spots and there were
many factors that went into our consideration of your application...
I dropped the letter on the floor and it felt as if someone had punched me
repeatedly in the stomach. I started tearing and Philip picked up the
letter and read it.
"Fuck them. Who needs them? I know you really wanted to go there, but if
they think you're not qualified, maybe you don't want to go to their
school," he said clutching me to his chest.
He was full of it, but it felt nice that he was at least trying to calm me
down. I sunk my face into his chest and started sobbing. It was incredibly
disappointing to realize that I had worked hard for my four years of high
school and to find out that it wasn't enough to reach my goal. I'm not sure
if Philip truly understood what I was feeling, but he continued to console
me.
"Think of it this way, baby...you can stay local and we can be together,"
he said as I looked up.
He smiled softly and I mustered the energy to smile back. He kissed me
gently on the lips and continued to hold me. Now, that I looked at his
face, I saw genuine disappointment for me in his eyes.
Right then, I took the letter in my hands and tore it to pieces and threw
it into the garbage can. "You know what? You're right. Fuck them," I turned
around and gave a kiss on the cheek.
We both were still standing there as Philip tried to console me. We made
our way back into my room, as I crashed onto my bed thinking about
everything. I was in mid-thought about how lucky I was to have someone as
special as Philip, when he put his hand on my cheek and locked his soft
lips onto mine.
I fell asleep that night wrapped in his strong embrace...
Want to find out what happens next? Comments? E-mail me at
moonchil0@aol.com if you want to have the next chapter posted!